Add Color to Your Planters: Part 1

Pretty pots are my favorite for flowers and herbs on the deck. But price is always a factor and since I find a lot of freebies and cheap pots for planting they can be ugly or drab. This is the summer of spray paint and I'm starting early by revamping some old garden pots and plant stands that have been lying around growing ugly for the last few years. My favorite color so far is a sweet ocean blue turquoise paint that I happened across at the hardware store. It looks amazing with the yellow I picked up and is going to look fabulous with pinkish red carnations.

Painting pots is super easy and fast. I used old and new terracotta pots and some grubby plastic planters. To keep it looking good all around, I painted terracotta drainage dishes and old plates I use for drainage dishes. The spray paint is easy to scrape off slick plates so be aware that this won't last forever on your fancy china. I still need to find some chalk to label the plants in my chalkboard painted pots. I also went crazy on plant stands that I will post about tomorrow in Part 2 so stay tuned.

Here are the pots and plates I painted. I'm going to hunt for red and a better quality yellow this weekend and more pots so I can mix and match the drainage dishes and experiment with patterns. Check back next week for Part 3 to see how it goes!

(Don't forget to do this in an open area away from pets and plants)

Happy Painting,

- Cerise

Custom Earring Box

I am so tired of searching for earrings in my jewelry box every morning. If I find one I want to wear, often I can't find a match. I have been carrying around some pieces of plastic sheets that I confiscated from work. They came in with some fashion jewelry sets and were destined for the trash bin. I didn't know what I would use them for at the time. I figured that they might work for my earring project.

First step was to cut the cards and make holes in them for the earrings. They work great! I looked for a box that would work at thrift stores and craft stores, hoping to find something I can finish. I couldn't find anything so the next step is to make my own box.

Friday Find: Artist Nicaeli

Our featured artist is one of my favorite! Nicaeli is on Etsy and I first came across her when I was living in humboldt County. I needed a new wallet and wanted something unique. I found her by searching "Shop local" on Etsy and realized she lived right in Arcata. I loved the products as she makes them from recylced leather. My wallet was bright green (my favorite color!).

As December neared this year, I thought I might want a new wallet as the old one was getting worn out. Cerise told me it was fine and I didn't need new one. What she really did is order a new (upcycled!) wallet from Nicaeli, Nicael Leistikow. I love it! I love that Nicael hand makes these and that she uses recycled leather. She also make handbags and accessories as well as beautiful masks. Check out her shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/nicaeli and her blog at http://gurglythings.blogspot.com.
Thanks Nicael!